Anyone who knows me will attest that I love food. I love to cook and I love to eat. People will often joke about my ability to “put it away”. Food is a weakness of mine. I use it for comfort and satisfaction. It lifts me up when I am down, and serves as a means of satisfying boredom. When left to ponder, my mind wanders to food. I enjoy the luxury of being able to snack as I please, and eat as much as I like. In India I daydream about curry and naan, and sometimes luxuries from home i.e. whole wheat bread.
I lack self –control; in dietary choices, and other facets of life. Living with six others on a limited budget has made me keenly aware of this. Because we share everything, I cannot eat as I please. Moods seem to be heightened in this place. I find myself naturally being more irritated because of various circumstances (the heat, community style living, and challenges at the orphanage). But there is beauty in this; here I must frequently choose to act virtuously despite elevated moods. Timshel—Thou Mayest, for you Steinbeck fans out there, I am reminded that we have choice. I can choose to eat small portions, because I don’t need more. I can choose to give a child who is difficult to love attention, because I believe they are valuable.
I love and miss you all dearly,
Francesca
